54 



INTEODUCTOEY — THE CONSTITUENTS OF MILK. 



TABLE IV.— Peopeeties of the Acids of Seeies 

 C„H2„,tiC00H. 



None of the acids of this series absorb iodine or bromine, as 

 they are saturated compounds, and are not appreciably attacked 

 by strong sulphuric acid or fused alkalies ; the lead, copper, and 

 zinc salts of the lower members of the series (up to lauric) are 

 soluble in ether, but lead, copper, and zinc myristate, palmitate, 

 and stearate are not very soluble in this menstruum. 



Acids of the Series, C„H2„-iC00H— Oleic Acid, CikHj,,. COOH, 

 — This acid is probably a constituent of butter ; it is extra- 

 ordinarily difficult to prepare it in the state of purity, as it is 

 altered by exposure to the air, and no well-defined stable com- 

 pound is known. It is extremely doubtful whether it has ever 

 been isolated ; the formula given for the acid is to some extent 

 a matter of conjecture, as there is great probability that the 

 analyses from which it was deduced were made on impure 



